Notes and Editorial Reviews

Over the years John Rutter's Christmas recordings with his outstanding Cambridge Singers have become essential components of holiday tradition for choral music fans around the world. Throughout the 1980s and early '90s Rutter's legions of followers were treated to several now-classic CD albums for Collegium, including Christmas Night, Christmas with the Cambridge Singers, and Christmas Day in the Morning. It's from these recordings that the present program was drawn, with the addition of two newly issued tracks--Dormi, Jesu and Love came down at Christmas. Yes, if you already own those other discs, for completeness' sake and, well, just because it's a new Rutter release, you'll still have to haveRead more this one. And that's not a bad thing at all, especially since all of these tracks have been remastered in notably clearer, more vibrant sound than their 10- or 15-year-old predecessors.

The selections focus on Rutter's own compositions, with "a sprinkling" of his arrangements of traditional carols organized (in typical Rutter/Cambridge Singers fashion) into a thematically grouped program--Prologue, The Christmas Story, Christmas Night, Christmas reflections, Christmas Joy, and Epilogue--the latter consisting of a lovely setting of Silent Night, made for a 1988 BBC television production. And speaking of classics, among the 23 pieces heard here is Rutter's masterpiece, What sweeter music, a staple of Christmas programs everywhere (and a continuing presence in a popular series of Volvo commercials), sounding even more glorious than ever. [11/23/2002]
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com Read less

Mary's Lullabyby John Rutter Conductor:
John Rutter
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cambridge Singers,
City of London Sinfonia
Period: 20th Century Written: England Date of Recording: 04/1985 Venue: Great Hall, University College, London Length: 3 Minutes 27 Secs. Language: English

9.

Star Carolby John Rutter Conductor:
John Rutter
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cambridge Singers,
City of London Sinfonia
Date of Recording: 04/1985 Venue: Great Hall, University College, London Length: 2 Minutes 50 Secs. Language: English

Christmas lullabyby John Rutter Conductor:
John Rutter
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cambridge Singers,
City of London Sinfonia
Date of Recording: 04/1993 Venue: Great Hall, University College, London Length: 4 Minutes 4 Secs. Language: English

The very best time of yearby John Rutter Conductor:
John Rutter
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cambridge Singers,
City of London Sinfonia
Date of Recording: 04/1985 Venue: Great Hall, University College, London Length: 3 Minutes 40 Secs. Language: English

22.

We wish you a merry Christmasby Traditional Conductor:
John Rutter
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cambridge Singers,
City of London Sinfonia
Written: England Date of Recording: 04/1985 Venue: Great Hall, University College, London Length: 1 Minutes 42 Secs. Language: English Notes: Arranged: John Rutter

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: ( 2 Customer Reviews )

John RutterJanuary 26, 2013By J. Cartney (Annapolis, MD)See All My Reviews"I love this album! For years I had been searching for the title of one of his Christmas songs our church choir sang in a city where I lived previously. I would hear it on WETA but always in the context of an album. I finally seached online and found the title: Christmas Lullaby. Along with The Angels' Carol, it is one of the carols I enjoy hearing most. This album provides both as well as some of my other favorites. I may well still be litsning to it in July!"Report Abuse

Enjoy John RutterJanuary 15, 2013By Karon Sorensen (Aurora, CO)See All My Reviews"John Rutter music is beautiful. He is one of my favorite coral writter."Report Abuse